Excitement permeates Central Florida on first day of high-school football practice

From teams coming off disappointing years to a reigning state champion, all teams have potential in August

August 5, 2013|By Brendan Sonnone, Orlando Sentinel

His white T-shirt drenched in sweat and mud, Adam Torres takes his hands off his knees, breathes deeply and stares at teammates.

It is just past midnight early Monday at Lake Mary, and the Rams are midway through a 12-hour boot camp conducted by former Navy SEALs to kick off the first official day of high-school football practice in Central Florida.

"It's physically grueling, but the main thing we're trying to get to is the mental toughness," said Torres, a senior defensive tackle and FSU commit. "At the end of the night, you're leaning on anyone you can. I'm starving for the season.''

Torres is not alone.

Although each squad has different goals and various obstacles to face, the excitement and buzz of a fresh start is palpable as teams began fall practice.

Apopka, which is coming off a Class 8A state title, opened practice with close to 100 varsity and junior-varsity players. It was the Blue Darters' biggest August turnout in years.

"We're usually at 75 to 80," coach Rick Darlington said. "These are kids that have come up in our program. We've got a big senior group [26], and that usually means your numbers are going to be up."

The Blue Darters are rushing to get ready for their nationally televised (ESPN) season opener Aug. 24 at South Carolina power Duncan Byrnes and preparing to face a hurry-up offense. Most area teams will begin the regular season Aug. 30.

Apopka, whose game against Byrnes will kick off at noon, opened practice at 11 a.m., with temperatures climbing toward 90 degrees.

"We have to get acclimated to the heat," Darlington said

The heat was also on in Winter Garden, where West Orange took the practice field in the afternoon. Bob Head is beginning his first year with the Warriors after spending the past eight at rival Olympia.

With music blaring over loudspeakers, Head ran around drills with his players, telling them to "set the tone for the year." West Orange has not made the playoffs since 1999.

"I feel like there's added pressure to make it happen now, and it's important for the kids to feel it, too," Head said.

In Lake County, Mount Dora has high expectations after a 56-28 spring-game win against Wekiva. However, the program had to alter its practice schedule over the weekend to conform to Florida High School Athletic Association rules, coach Chad Grabowski said.

The Hurricanes planned to practice from 8 to 9:30 a.m., break for a half-hour, then resume working out from 10 to 11:30.

But they were informed that would be considered a two-a-day practice, violating the FHSAA's heat acclimatization rules. Teams cannot practice twice a day until after their seventh day of practice.

Instead, Mount Dora practiced for three hours in a row.

"I like running the first half of practice, then taking a half-hour off [for players] to rehydrate and rest,'' Grabowski said. "That's the way we did it last year.''

The idea of a fresh start is evident at Dr. Phillips, even though the Panthers went 13-1 and lost to Apopka in a state semifinal.

"It's super-exciting," Dr. Phillips coach Rodney Wells said. "I talked [to the players] about the 32 seniors we had last year, that we need new names, new leadership. It's almost impossible to replace 32 guys, so we'll be playing with a young group.